A potential model for studying the plasticity and reprogramming of human epidermal stem cells through preimplantation blastocyst microinjection.
Microinjection of adult stem cells (ASCs) into blastocysts provides a classic model for studying ASC plasticity. To explore the molecular mechanisms that govern the reprogramming of ASCs, we evaluated the experimental model through microinjection of human epidermal stem cells (hEpiSCs) into mouse blastocysts. Mouse blastocysts underwent regular embryogenesis after microinjection of allogeneic cells, confirmed by morphological observation and embryo cell counting. hEpiSCs survive and integrate into mouse embryos, by monitoring the migration of injected cells at 2, 4, 12, 16 and 24 h. In this xenogeneic system, hEpiSCs could be reprogrammed within 24 h, as evidenced by the silencing of CK15 and Integrin beta 1 gene expression, without activation of Oct4 and Nanog. Microinjection of hEpiSCs into mouse blastocysts provides an efficient model for studying the molecular mechanisms of their plasticity. Moreover, the possibility of inducing pluripotent stem cells without transgenes or viruses can be entertained.
Jiang
Ruzhang
R
State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 Xian Lie Nan Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, China.
Huang
Bing
B
Jin
Chenjin
C
Song
Ge
G
Zhong
Xiufeng
X
Yuan
Jing
J
Xiang
Peng
P
He
Yuan
Y
Liu
Bingqian
B
Sun
Xuerong
X
Zhang
Yuehong
Y
Ge
Jian
J
D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000235:genetics*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D065150:Cellular Reprogramming / Q000235:genetics*; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D020868:Gene Silencing / Q000502:physiology; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008845:Microinjections / Q000379:methods; D008954:Models, Biological; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000379:methods